Flash lamp



il 4, 1938. G. WQWHALEY 2,332,063

FLASH LAMP Filed Dec. 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Oct. 4, 1938.

G. W. WHALEY FLASH LAMP Filed Dec. l, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Pf I lNVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to flash lamps and has particular reference to .a flash lamp having a rest thereon to receive a pistol or other firearm whereby the flash lamp may be employed to locate a target and act as a sighting device to assist in sighting the pistol upon the target so located.

An officer of the law is required to carry both a flash light and a gun. It many times happens that he desires to use only one of such pieces of equipment. Many times he desires to use both of such pieces of equipment together.

Any flrearm or pistol has the bore of the barrel related to the sight thereof so that at an average, or some predetermined distance, the trajectory of the bullet in flight is accommodated for while the line of sight is necessarily horizontal from the marksman to the object, the bore of the firearm being raised at an angle from the horizontal. Any one "setting" of the sight with reference to the gun bore can only be absolutely accurate for one distance. In order to maintain this accuracy, even for this distance, it is necessary that the firearm be held with the handle in a true horizontal plane. Otherwise the angle of trajectory f of the bullet is varied.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a flash light and gun combination which permits of their separate or combined use, and which are so related as to aid in the vertical alignment of the firearm when the flash light is adapted to the firearm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flash lamp of the character set forth, wherein a gun may rest upon a seat formed upon the case of the flash lamp and in which the gun will be held in this seat by the thumb of the operator passing over the barrel of the gun thereby directing the flash light upon a target, while automatically seating the gun centrally upon the illuminated area of the target.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following specifications read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View of a flash lam constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating the manner in which a pistol on the rest thereof will accurately center the flight of the bullet upon a target;

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevational view of a flash lamp constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating the manner in which the gun is held upon the flash lamp by the hand of the operator;

(Cl. W-6.41)

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line III- III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a flash lamp con- Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated my flash lamp as adapted to receive and be held upon a revolver I of the character and size usually carried by police, night watchmen, and similar operatives. Such persons are usually provided with a .32, .38, or .45 caliber revolver, the barrel of which usually approximates 6 inches in length; that is the barrel 2 between its outer end and its junction with the frame 3 of the revolver, is approximately 6 inches or slightly less than 6 inches.

I have illustrated my flash light adapted to a firearm of this character and size, as including a flash light case 4 having the general shape illus- Hail ililiil't trated in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, which shape adapts the case for the reception of three standard unit ash light battery cells and a focusing head 5 which carries a lens 6 by which the light from the flash lamp may be focused or regulated as to the size of the spot of illumination projected therefrom.

Since the flash light is to be held in place upon the gun only by the hand of the operator, it follows that the foremost end of the flash light must not project beyond the forward end of the barrel 2 of the gun as otherwise the muzzle blast of the gun as it is fired would impinge upon the casing of the flash light, upon the focusing head and other parts projecting beyond the muzzle of the gun and be damaged thereby, and, in addition, the force of the muzzle blast on the casing of the flash light will tend to dislodge the flash light from proper seating relation upon the gun. For this reason, I prefer that the leg of the T-shape of the flash light casing shall not exceed 6 inches, preferably, and shall be considerably shorter than 6 inches so that when the flash light is in place on the gun the outermost end of the flash light shall be a substantial distance to the rear of the barrel of the gun.

I have illustrated my flash light as being parlliclllarly adapted for the reception of three unit cells 1, 8 and 9, since a three-cell flash lamp has sufllcient capacity for producing substantial illumination and in addition thereto has a relatively long life, thereby adapting my flash lamp to be used as an ordinary flash lamp which will be serviceable for general purpose in addition to its adaptability to the reception of an accurate aiming of firearms.

As illustrated herein, in using the flash lamp the hand will grasp that portion of the casing representing the leg of the T so that the longitudinal axis of the flash lamp and the axis of the beam of light projecting therefrom is the axis of the leg of the T.

A barrel rest I 0 is preferably provided upon the uppermost side of the leg portion of the casing 4, this barrel rest comprising an elongated piece of material having a substantially semicircular groove II extending longitudinally thereof, the shape and dimensions of the socket or groove II corresponding substantially to the exterior dimensions of the barrel 2 of the gun so that when the gun barrel is laid in the groove it will nest or seat snugly therein. The barrel rest I 0 preferably extends throughout the entire length of the leg of the T-shaped casing and may extend completely to the rear of the casing, if desired, though, as will be hereinafter more fully described, for the purposes of accurate sighting and adjustment of the barrel rest I0, I prefer to form a gunreceiving recess or rear socket I2 in the rear portion of the casing as an independent unit separate from the barrel rest I0.

As Will be noted particularly from an inspection of Fig. 4, the leg of the T-shaped casing is sufliciently long to accommodate one unit battery cell 1, and also to provide sufficient space within which a lamp I3 and focusing reflector I4 may be housed. The unit c ells commonly found upon the market are approximately 3 inches in length so that that portion of the flash lamp which will lie immediately below the gun barrel cannot readily be constructed to accommodate more than a single cell, so that additional cells must be located in such manner as not to interfere with the frame 3 of the gun. That is, the additional cells must be either disposed toward one side of the longitudinal axis of the flash light casing or must project downwardly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the flash light in order that they shall not be in the way of the frame of the gun.

In order to achieve compactness of the flash light casing and to bala-nce the flash light casing, I prefer to provide the space for the-additional cells 8 and 9 in the rear portion of the flash light casing. each of these cells being disposed in chambers I5 and I6 and spaced from each other a sufficient distance so that when the casing is in place upon the gun one of these cells will lie on each 'side of the frame 3 of the gun. the space between the two cells being formed by a relatively thickwalled partition I'I in which may be readily formed the frame seat I2 for receivingr the frame of the gun, and accurately aligning the frame of the gun relative to the barrel seat I O. When manufacturing the substantially T-shaped casing as shown herein, the casing may be readily constructed of any suitable material, such as metal, or preferably, it may be molded from Bakelite or similar molded products, the essential characteristic of the casing being that it must have a relatively slender portion extending in the direction of the line of light projected by the lamp so that this portion of the casing may be held snugly against the gun barrel by the hand of the operator.

In the particular form of casing illustrated herein, the casing is formed of two sections, a body section I8 and a cover section I9, the body section having a chamber 20 extending along the leg of the T adapted to receive and house the battery cell 7, the outer end of this portion of the body member being threaded, as indicated at 2l, to receive the focusing head 5. The chamber 2D also provides a space in which the l-amp I3 and its reector I4 may be housed.

The rearward portion of the casing, that is, that portion of the casing constituting the crossbar of the T, includes the chambers I5 and I6 for the reception of the battery cells 8 and 9.

The cover member I9 includes a forwardly projecting portion completing the chamber 20 and a rearwardly projecting portion 22 constituting a cover for the lower ends of the chambers I5 and I6.

The interconnection of the several battery cells 'I, 8 and 9 may be readily accomplished by the employment of spring connector strips which will, in addition to connecting the cells electrically, also act to hold these cells tightly in their v-arious chambers. From an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4 it will be noted that the positive pole 23 of the battery cell 'I engages the central terminal of the lamp I3, the rear end of this cell engaging a spring finger 24 which extends into the chamber 20 from the cover member I9. That is the spring strip from which the finger 24 is constructed is imbedded as is indicated at 25 in the material of the cover member I9, the spring strip extending downwardly and rearwardly along the cover member I9 and then laterally across the cover member I9 to form a second spring finger 26 adapted to resiliently engage the positive terminal 2'I of the battery cell 8. The rear end of the battery cell 8 is engaged by a spring nger 28, the strip from which such finger is formed extended as is indicated at 29 through the partition wall I1 of the body of the casing and into the chamber I6 where it terminates into a second spring finger 30 engaging the positive terminal 3| of the battery cell 9. The lower end of the battery cell 9 is likewise engaged by a spring strip 32 which extends, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, along the portion 22 of the cover member I9 and thence upwardly and along the interior of the forwardly projecting portion of the cover I9 terminating in a compact terminal 33 constituting one terminal of a switch 34 by which the lighting of the lamp I3 may be controlled. The opposite terminal 35 of the switch 34 being formed of a strip of metal which extends forwardly along the cover member I9 to engage a spring contact finger 36 secured to a metal 4lining 3I in the forward end of the chamber 20 and which metal lining is electrically connected to the metal of the reflector I4 which constitutes a socket for receiving the lamp I3. As will be understood from an inspection o-f Figs. 3, 4 and 7, the circuit for the lamp I3 extends from one terminalof the lamp I3 through the cell 'I, thence through the cell 8, thence through the cell 9, and thence through the switch 34, and thence back tothe lamp I3, the three cells 1, 8 and 9 being connected in series circuit relation, as is the common practice in flash light constructions.

The forward end of the cover member I9 preferably includes an extension 38 adapted to be received in a recess 39 formed in the body member I8 so that when the extension or tongue 38 240. lLLUIifllil/lllltl,

is engaged in the recess 39 the front end of the cover member will be squarely upon the body I8, while at the same time insertion of the tongue 38 in the recess 39 will cause the spring finger 36 to electrically engage the spring contact member 35. The rear end of the cover -member I9 may be held in place on the rear portion of the body member I8 by any suitable means, such as a snap fastener illustrated at 40.

It will be apparent, therefore, that by disengaging the snap fastener the entire cover plate may be removed, removal thereof also removing the spring contact fingers 24, 26 and 32 and allowing the unit cells to be readily removed and replaced, while when the cover member is replaced the spring fingers will engage .their several battery units and not only hold them securely within the casing but alsol electrically connect these cells in the proper circuit relation .for the successful operation of the iiash light.

It should be noted that the switch member 34 is preferably located upon that side of the casing which will be disposed adjacent the fingers of the hand of an operator, holding the flash light on the gun so th-at when the hand is in the position indicated in Fig. 2 one of the fingers will lie immediately above the switch 34 and the operator may therefore manipulate the switch of the flash light without disturbing his grip on the flash light and gun.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the iiash light is so constructed that when removed from the gun it will constitute an ordinary, serviceable fiash light capable of throwing a strong beam of light and by using the focusing head, the beam of light area covered by the beam or spot of light may be adjusted to any desired size. Moreover, the flash light so constructed is convenient to carry either in the pocket or on the belt of the policeman or other operator ready for use as an ordinary flash light entirely independent vof its adaptability for sighting a gun when needed.

The alignment of the gun rests with respect to the axis of the beam of light projected by the fiash light may be, and preferably is, adjusted to fit a particular gun with which the flash light is .to be used since it is well known that every firearm has its own characteristics of accuracy. Flash lights of the character set forth herein may be manufactured in quantities with the gun barrel rest I0 and the gun frame seat I2 molded to conform with the lines of the gun frame and gun barrels of a particular brand or make of firearm. For example, one series of flash light cases and gun rests may be manufactured for the Colt firearms; another line of cases may be molded to fit the Smith & Wesson firearm and others to fit different other types of guns, permitting the policeman, watchman, or other operative to purchase a ash light adapted for the type of gun that he carries. He may then take this gun and flash light to a gunsmith who will align the gun barrel rest I0 accurately with respect to the particular firearm with which the flash light is to be used.

To assist in this accurate alignment and to provide an adjustability to the barrel rest II) I prefer to form the barrel rest I0 as a separate unit secured to the body I8 of the flash light casing by means of a pair of screws 44 and 45 which preferably extend down through openings or bores 46 and 41, respectively, in the lowermost portion of the gun barrel rest. To permit the gun barrel rest to be adjusted vertically to accurately align the flight of the bullet with the axis of the light, I interpose a wedge shaped shim 48 between the gun rest I0 and the body I8 of the fiash lamp, the shim 48 having a slot 49 formed therein extending laterally across the shim 48 and adapted to receive an eccentric portion 50 formed upon the screw 44. Thus by rotating the screw 44 the shim 4B may be moved forwardly and rearwardly to raise or lower the rear end of the gun rest IIJ. When this gun rest I0 is found to be accurately positioned vertically, sealing wax or other sealing compound may be poured into the space 5I around the groove 44, sealing this groove in the desired adjusted position.

Likewise the lateral adjustment of the gun rest I9 may be accomplished by forming the opening or bore 41 for the screw 45 in the shape of an elongated slot extending longitudinally of the gun barrel rest Ill, and forming a portion 52 of the screw 45 upon an eccentric so that by turning the screw 45 the front end of the gun barrel rest I8 may be moved laterally and when the desired position is reached the screw 45 may be sealed in this position by filling the space indicated at 53 with sealing compound which will maintain the gun barrel rest in the desired location.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a flash lamp capable of ordinary service as an ordinary illuminating flash light but which is provided with a pistol barrel rest upon which a pistol barrel may be placed in such manner as to bring the axis of the lens 6 into substantial parallelism to the piston barrel, and substantially align the trajectory of the bullet with the axis of the beam of light projected by the fiash light. The rear socket I2 holds the flashlight so that the axis of the lens will be held fixed in the vertical plane passing through the barrel when firing. By holding the flash light upon the gun with one hand, the operator may readily find an object in the dark and at that instant have his gun so trained upon that object that any bullet fired from the gun will'accurately strike the object so located.

While the single spot of light from the liash ,lamp will act as a sufficient guide for determining the accuracy of alignment of the ight of the bullet with the object, it may be desired in some' instances to provide a somewhat brighter central spot than the illuminated area, and for this purpose either the reiiector I4 or the lens 6 may be so constructed as to produce a bright central spot surrounded by an illuminated area of lesser density. This vmay be readily accomplished, for example, by providing an additional 'f bulls eye portion on the lens as indicated at In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a, modified form of flash lamp which may be used in the practice of my invention, this flash lamp including a casing 66 constructed of tubular sections 6I and 62, the tubular section 6I constituting the horizontal or longitudinal axis of the flash lamp and extending a, distance sufcient to house one battery cell and the focusing head 63 from which the light is projected. The section 62 of the casing extends at right angles to the section 6I and is of suflicient length to house two additional battery cells. In this form of the device the gun barrel rest 64 may be constructed as a separate piece of material and attached to the leg 6I of the fiash lamp, a gun frame rest 65 being preferably provided extending along the leg 62 of the ash lamp and the rests 64 and 65 having grooves or seats therein adapted to receive the gun barrel and the frame of the gun in the manner described with reference to Figs. 1 through 7, herein.

With this form of the device attaching mechanism, such as screws 44 and 45, may be employed to accurately adjust the barrel and frame rests with respect to the night of the bullet from the gun.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to any of the details of construction shown, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a ashlight to be used with a pistol having a, frame, barrel, and a handle, a fiashlight casing having a light, and lens for projecting a beam forwardly from the same, said casing having a barrel rest with an upper socket on its upper side for engaging the under side of the pistol barrel to hold the flashlight casing with its axis in a plane substantially parallel with the pistol barrel, said barrel rest having a rear socket at an angle to the axis of the upper socket for engaging the forward edge of the pistol frame, to hold the casing axis in substantially the same vertical plane with the pistol barrel and handle.

2. In a. flashlight to be used with a pistol having a frame, barrel, and a handle, a flashlight casing having a light, and lens for projecting a beam forwardly from the same, said casing having a barrel rest with an upper socket on its upper side for engaging the under side of the pistol barrel to hold the flashlight casing with its axis in a plane substantially parallel with the pistol barrel, said barrel rest having a rear socket at an angle to the axis of the upper socket for engaging the forward edge of the pistol frame, to hold the casing axis in substantially the same vertical plane with the pistol barrel and handle, said casing having a cylindrical extension with a chamber for a battery cell, extending forwardly under the pistol barrel position and operating as a grip for the users hand to hold the flashlight on the pistol and cooperate with the hand grasping the pistol handle when aiming and firing the pistol.

3. In a. flashlight to be used with a pistol having a frame, barrel, and a handle, a flashlight casing having a light, and lens for projecting a beam forwardly from the same, said casing having a barrel rest with an upper socket on its upper side for engaging the under side of the pistol barrel to hold the flashlight casing with its axis in a plane substantially parallel with the pistol barrel, said barrel rest having a rear socket at an angle to the axis of the upper socket for engaging the forward edge of the pistol frame, to hold the casing axis in substantially the same vertical plane with the pistol barrel and handle, said casing having a cylindrical extension with a chamber for a battery cell, extending forwardly under the pistol barrel position and operating as a grip for the users hand to hold the flashlight on the pistol and cooperate with the hand grasping the pistol handle when aiming and firing the pistol, said casing having a substantially cylindrical casing at each side of the rear socket for carrying battery cells.

4. In a ashlight to be used with a pistol having a, frame, barrel, and a handle, a ashlight casing having a light and lens for projecting a beam forwardly from the same, said casing having a barrel rest with an upper socket on its upper side for engaging the under side of the pistol barrel to hold the flashlight casing with its axis in a plane substantially parallel with the pistol barrel, said barrel rest having a rear socket at an angle to the axis of the upper socket for engaging the forward edge of the pistol frame, to hold the casing axis in substantially the same vertical plane with the pistol barrel and handle, said casing having a forward extension under the upper socket with a chamber for carrying a battery cell, and having an elongated downward extension adjacent the rear socket for carrying two battery cells end to end.

5. In a fiashlight and firearm combination adapted for separate or combined use, a firearm having a barrel and a frame, a flashlight including a case and a barrel rest on the case, said rest including a portion adapted to align the flashlight with the barrel, and a second portion at an angle to the rst portion adapted to align the case of the ashlight with the frame of the rearm as the firearm is gripped with one hand and the flashlight is gripped in the other, and the firearm is seated within the said portions of the rest.

GEORGE W. WHALEY. 

